Lubricator.



No. 778,087. l PATENTED DBC. 20, 1904.

` -J. H. TOMLINSON d J. M. STARR.

LUBRICATOR.

APPLIGATION FILBDMAY 4. 1904.

No MODEL.

Tij. Q T

Patented December 2o, 1904.

. l' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IovIIN II. ToMLINsoN AND JAMES M. STARE, oE TERRE HAUTE, IIIDIANA.4

e. LUBRICATOR. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,087, dated December 20, 1904. lApplication .filed May 4, 1904. Serial No. 206,355.

^ To @ZZ whomft't may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN H. ToMLINsoN and JAMES M. STARR, both citizens .of the United States, and residents of Terre Haute, in the 4county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Lubricator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to lubricators, and more particularly to those adapted for use in connection with Vcrank-pins, eccentrics, and rthe like. i

It lhas for its principal objects the provision of a simple and'effective deviceof this c ass. v

It consists in the various features and combinations hereinafter described andmore particularly claimed. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part'of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lubricator embodying one form of our invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the cover removed, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. I

C designates a receptacle or cup consisting of a base 10, which may have hexagonal Walls 11 to permit it to be grasped by a wrench, and a preferably cylindrical side wall 12. The upper. portion of this wall 12 is shown as internally threaded at 13 to receive a screwcover 14. AAt the center of the base is a threaded opening through which extends a plug P, having a threaded portion 15 of maximum diameter for engagement with the opening. Outside of the cup-base the plug has a portion 16, which is preferably threaded to serv'e as a stem for securing the lubricator in place, it being here illustrated as mounted upon an element E. The opposite end of the plug projects at 17 into the cup, and through its inner face opens a feed-channel 18, extending through the plug. Surrounding this opening is formed a seat 19, with which may co- A act a movable member or ball 19a, which when in contact with said seat under the infiuence of gravity will close the channel.

The projection 17 is/preferably threaded to engage a retaining member or cage 20, fitting over it and preventing the ball from moving far from its seat. Through thev side wall of -the cage are openingsv 21, situated above the upper end of the block, thus leaving below them a small inner receptacle surrounding the ball-seat. From the cage rises an upward extension 22, through which is a vertical bore threaded to receive a screw or adjusting member 23. .This screw is preferably provided with a milled head 24, situated above the top of the cup, to enable it to be conveniently turned, and with a lock-nut 25',v contacting with the upper end of the extension and serving to secure the screw in place. The inner end of the screw may have a curved concave surface atl 26 of substantially the same contour as the surfaceof the ball. This limits the range of movement of the latter from its seat. The inner wall of the cage above the seat is also shown as spherical to permit the ball to coact smoothly therewith when the screw is raised to give the extreme lift for maximum feed.

In use the cup is supplied with oil or a properly fluid grease, and when the parts to be lubricated-are at rest the ball will coact with the seat and wholly preventk the entrance of the lubricant into the feed-passage; but when the parts are in Inotionkas, for example, that ofv an eccentric-the centrifugal force generated by their throw will cause the ball to rise until it contacts with the adjusting-screw., thus opening the passage and permitting the lubricant to flow to the bearing, the freedom and quantity of this flow being regulated by the position of the screw which governs the play .of the ball.

It will be noted that even if particles of dirt,

be introduced into the cup those of any size will be retained by the narrow opening between the ball and its seat and many of the smaller will be ground or reduced'by the rotation of the ball in contact with said seat. To prevent undue wear arisingfrom the grinding action of the ball, this and the plug P are preferably formed of hard steel.

In the use of lubricators upon locomotives it is quite common for the covers of the cups IOO to be shaken off by the jar, whereupon the contents of said cups is thrown out, leaving the bearing dry and often leading to serious heating. Vith our improved lubricator sufficient oil will be retained within the cage below the openings and above the ball to keep thelatter moistened and allow the cup to properly perform its function until the locomotive able plug extending within the cup and being provided with an opening and a surrounding seat, a ball coacting with the seat, a cage separably mounted upon the plug and sur rounding` the ball with its upper wall conforming to said ball, said cage having au extension, andan adjusting member operating in the extension and having an operating-lwml situated above the top of the cup.

2. ln a lubricator, the combination with a receptacle provided with a feed-opening surrounded by a seat, of a ball coacting with the seat, a cage surrounding the seat and having its inner wall above said seat of spherical contour, and a screw threaded through the cage above the seat and having its end curved lo conform to the ball.

ln testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. lOiN/ILINSON. J AMES M. STARR. lVitnesses:

J. G. ELDER, C. M. luoU'r. 

